Rufus Rodriguez
Rufus Bautista Rodriguez (born September 13, 1953) is a Filipino legal scholar and politician. He is the president of the Centrist Democratic Party and has been a member of the House of Representatives representing the second district of Cagayan de Oro City from 2007 to 2016 and from 2019-present.
Rufus Rodriguez | |
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| Member of the Philippine House of Representatives from Cagayan de Oro's 2nd District | |
| Assumed office June 30, 2019 | |
| Preceded by | Maxie Rodriguez |
| In office June 30, 2007 – June 30, 2016 | |
| Preceded by | Constantino G. Jaraula (representative, Lone District) |
| Succeeded by | Maxie Rodriguez |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Rufus Bautista Rodriguez September 13, 1953 Cagayan de Oro, Misamis Oriental |
| Nationality | Filipino |
| Political party | Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino Centrist Democratic Party |
| Spouse(s) | Fenina T. Rodriguez |
| Alma mater | De La Salle University University of the Philippines Diliman |
| Profession | Politician |
A graduate of the De La Salle University (1975 AB Economics) and the University of the Philippines College of Law, Rodriguez served as Vice-Governor of Misamis Oriental from 1984 to 1986. In 1990, he became the dean of the College of Law of San Sebastian College. Rodriguez was appointed as the head of the Bureau of Immigration by President Joseph Estrada in 1998 and served in that capacity until 2001.[1]
Early life
During his high school graduation, Rodriguez was the recipient of the Insular Life Excellence Award.
As a sophomore law student, he was elected the first and first-Filipino president of the World Association of Law Students based in Washington, D.C. As such he presided over the organization’s assemblies in Khartoum, Madrid, and São Paulo.
Also as a law student at U.P., he became the youngest author of law books in his junior year by writing the Law on Transportation published by Rex Bookstore. He also became a member of the Order of the Purple Feather Honor Society from 1st to 4th year. After graduation he then passed the 1981 bar examinations with grades of 90% in three bar subjects, namely Commercial Law, Criminal Law and Labor Law.
Career
In 1980, while on his senior year at law school, Rodriguez was elected member of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Misamis Oriental. In 1984 he became Vice Governor of the province. Also that year, Rodriguez finished his M.A. in Economics at Xavier University.
In 1990, Rodriguez was appointed the law dean of the San Sebastian College of Law, Manila.
He took up further studies in law overseas and graduated with a Master of Laws at the Columbia School of Law, New York City in 1995.
From 2007 to 2016, Rodriguez was elected as the representative of the second district of Cagayan de Oro City in the 14th-16th Congress, ranking second among 268 congressmen on the most number of bills and resolutions filed at 554, of which 53 became Republic Acts. He was re-elected to the House in the 2010 and 2013 elections.
In the 15th Congress, Rodriguez ranked first in the House of Representatives in number of bills and resolutions filed, with 997, 9 of which have become laws, making him the House member with the most number of bills filed that became law.
On June 19, 2009, Rodriguez received a Certificate, Leaders in Development from the John F. Kennedy School of Government of Harvard University.
In 2011 he received a Certificate on Summer Courses on Public International Law from The Hague Academy of International Law.
In June 2012, Representative Rodriguez sponsored an amendment to the Expanded Breastfeeding Promotion Act of 2009. The proposed amendment revises the provisions rendering a time for breastfeeding babies during work hours. Breastfeeding mothers would no longer be paid for time spent breastfeeding as they are under the current Milk Code, provided the breaks do not exceed 40 minutes during an eight-hour work period.[2]
Rodriguez then attended the 17th Session of the Rhodes Academy of Oceans Law and Policy in Rhodes, Greece in July of that same year.
In 2015 Justice Undersecretary Justiniano amended a complaint against Representative Rodriguez for his part in the 2013 Pork Barrel Scam. It was for cases for malversation of funds.
During the May 9, 2016 presidential elections, Rodriguez first showed his support to candidates Grace Poe and Mar Roxas, but later in the campaign—when surveys changed in Rodrigo Duterte's favor—his support veered towards the Davao City mayor, who subsequently won.
Awards
Rodriguez was awarded “Most Outstanding Alumnus” by De La Salle University in 1999 and Xavier University in 2002.
In December 2008 he was awarded the Xavier University 75th Anniversary's Most Outstanding Alumnus Award for Public Service.
On November 14, 2010, he received the Gold Vision Triangle Award, the highest award given by the YMCA of the Philippines, for his exemplary and distinctive service to the Filipino youth.
In 2011 he was conferred a degree of Doctorate of Humanities (Civil Law), Honoris Causa, by the Central Mindanao University. That same year he was also awarded the YMCA Centennial Leadership Award for Government Service.
Rodriguez was also conferred a Doctor of Laws (Honoris Causa) degree by the University of Negros Occidental - Recoletos (UNO-R) in 2012.
Personal life
Rodriguez is married to Fenina Tiukinhoy of Surigao City and has a daughter, Regine Beatrice.
References
- "Member Information: Rufus B. Rodriguez". House of Representatives of the Philippines. Retrieved 2008-03-03.
External links
- "Rufus B. Rodriguez for Congressman". Retrieved 2008-03-03.
| Preceded by Constantino G. Jaraula (representative, Lone District) |
Representative, 2nd District of Cagayan de Oro City 2007–2016 |
Succeeded by Maxie Rodriguez |
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